CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously approved a law on Thursday that could lead to disqualifications from holding public office for up to 60 years for those who express their support for the imposition of sanctions on the South American country.
The so-called Liberator Simón Bolívar Law also includes measures to prosecute people in rebellion and represents the latest move by President Nicolás Maduro’s government to tighten regulations on everything from non-governmental organizations to social media, following the disputed presidential elections in July.
The vote by the ruling party-dominated legislature follows the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval earlier this month of the so-called Bolívar law, which would prohibit U.S. government agencies from hiring people who do business with Maduro’s government. .
The Bolívar Law, which needs final approval by the US Senate, has been described as “garbage” by Maduro.
Temporary bans from holding public office, imposed on opposition politicians for their support of sanctions on the Maduro government and other accusations, are common in Venezuela. In January, opposition leader María Corina Machado’s 15-year ban from holding public office was confirmed.
Broadcast media, including radio and television stations, that support the sanctions could be shut down under the new law, while text-based media could face fines worth up to $51.7 million.
The legislative turmoil has raised alarm among opposition politicians, who are still searching for a way forward after electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July election.
The opposition, several Western countries and some international organizations have criticized the elections as non-transparent and have called for the full publication of the ballots.
The opposition has published its own tallies showing that its challenger, Edmundo González, handily won the race. González has since fled to Spain.